Summary of Test Results for a Robustness Test in Accordance with part 3 of the DIN EN 14175 series of standards

Evaluated for use with Berner safety cabinets

An organised, ergonomic workspace and quick access to consumables are essential in everyday laboratory work. In cooperation with Berner International, Better Basics organisational systems were evaluated for their use in microbiological safety cabinets. At Berner’s research and test laboratory, airflow visualisation tests were performed to examine the influence of the SmartRack, SmartEdge and SmartRail systems on the airflow inside safety cabinets.

The results provide a realistic and differentiated picture: objects placed within an airflow can generally cause local changes to the airflow pattern. For the integrated Better Basics organisational systems, it was observed that the laminar displacement airflow may be locally affected in the immediate vicinity of the racks. According to Berner’s observations, however, this effect remained limited to this immediate area. Already a few centimetres further towards the centre of the working area, no negative influence on the airflow could be observed.

Particular attention was also given to the air barrier at the front opening of the cabinet. During the visualisation tests, no smoke leakage through the work opening was observed. According to Berner, this indicates that the operator protection provided by the safety cabinet is not impaired by the organisational systems.

In practical terms, this means that Better Basics organisational systems can support a well-organised, ergonomic and safe workspace when used as intended. Berner describes the integrated organisational systems as a good solution for creating an organised and safe working environment, allowing laboratory materials to be arranged in a clear and easily accessible way.

At the same time, proper use remains important. Berner notes that critical substances should not be handled openly directly beneath the organisational system, and the release of particles in this area should be avoided where possible. As with any objects placed within the airflow of a safety cabinet, the specific arrangement of materials can also have an influence: larger and less streamlined objects may affect the airflow more than compact and appropriately positioned items.

Overall, Better Basics solutions help laboratories maintain an efficient and well-structured workspace, with improved accessibility and organisation of materials. Based on the airflow visualisation carried out by Berner, no negative influence on other areas of the working space was observed under the described conditions of use.